NCJ Number
127183
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: special issue (October 1990) Pages: 469-488
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The article discusses the potential feasibility of the voluntary, nonlitigation alternative program to solve media libel suits outside the courts. The program was developed by the Iowa Libel Research Project (ILRP).
Abstract
The article is based on a description of an alternative system for resolving media libel disputes and illustrates the process of matching general principles of dispute resolution to the needs of a particular genre of disputes. It begins with a brief discussion of the assumptions and goals of libel law. Next, the findings of the ILRP's research on the operation of the libel litigation system and plaintiffs' reactions to it are presented. Several proposed remedies for the problems of the current system are summarized. The research concerning various alternative dispute resolution methods that formed the design of the procedures is discussed. The alternative process used in the Libel Dispute Resolution Program is described as well as the potential acceptability of the program and issues for evaluation research. 96 footnotes (Author abstract modified)